Screen This

What’s not to love about movies?
For a few hours, your entire world slows down and a whole other universe unfolds.
Here’s what’s happening now on the silver screen in NYC.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center

Technology buffs will be excited to find out that family films screened at Lincoln Center are shown on the country’s largest plasma screen. In
this series formatted for kiddos 5-12, parents enjoy bleacher-style seating and
a roomy front area which allows children to run amok without impeding the view.

This month, all scheduled films fall under the theme Fantastic Voyages. Fams
can expect both classic American and foreign features, with elements of fantasy
or magic woven in. We think the younger set will especially dig Manuelita
(Argentina), an animated film which follows a turtle who takes a
trip on a runaway balloon.

When midwinter break rolls
around (February 20-24), scheduled programming includes repeated screenings of Twigson and Twigson Ties the Knot (Norway)—the story of a lonely boy
who invents an imaginary friend—and The Great Bear (Denmark), which
tells of a brother who has to rescue his annoying little sister from a 1,000-year-old
bear.

If hunger calls, don’t miss
out on the “Indie Lunch Box” available for $6 at the onsite Indie
Food and Wine. Feast on NY State cheddar grilled cheese sandwiches on multigrain
bread with apples and house-made hot chocolate. All tickets are $6,
subtitles read aloud. The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street, 212-875-5456, filmlinc.com.

Cobble Hill Cinema

For Brooklyn dwellers, the beloved Big Movies for Little Kids series screens every
other Monday at 4pm. February kicks off with Balto,
an animated feature about a dog who helped save children from the diphtheria
epidemic by crossing Alaska with a dogsled team to procure a vaccine. But we’re
especially excited for the end of the month (February 27), when Cobble Hill
will be showing a collection of funny, albeit silent, shorts from the famed
physical comedian Buster Keaton. Tickets are $7, babies 2 and under are
free. Stroller parking is available at front of theatre. 265 Court
Street, Brooklyn, 718-596-9113, cobblehilltheatre.com.

MoMA

Presenting about one screening a month,
MoMA’s unique programming trait is that it tends to show thematic groupings of
shorts. This month, kids can catch “Quiet Please! Silent Films” which includes
a 1920s short directed by Buster Keaton—recommended for ages six and up. The
best part is, the events are totally free! Tickets are available on a
first-come, first-served basis on the day of the program only. Family films
show from 12-1pm on
select Saturdays. The Celeste
Bartos Theater, 4 West 54th Street, 212-708-9805, moma.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF)

Over
100 animated, live action and experimental shorts will drum up lots of buzz at
venues all over the city. Stay tuned for screenings like A Monster in Paris
(Toronto) and Tales of the Night (Berlin). Great for ages 3-18. March 2-25, tickets on sale now (prices
depend on film), gkids.com.

BABY-FRIENDLY SCREENINGS

New
parents crave movies, too! These special screenings come with changing areas,
stroller parking, plus adjusted lights and sounds. Let the wailing commence.

Baby Flicks: United Artists Court Street Stadium 12
First screening of every Wednesday film (Rated G or PG). $9.50, children
under 3 are free.
106 Court Street, Brooklyn Heights, 718-246-8170

Crybaby
Matinee: City Cinemas 86th Street
Wednesdays at 11am. Regular ticket
prices apply, babies are free. Call for movie selection.
210 East 86th
Street, 212-734-4427

Rattle & Reel: Sunshine Cinema
Wednesdays at 12pm.
$13, babies are free.
143 E Houston Street, 212-330-8182, landmarktheatres.com

For more family-friendly screenings around town, check out our Family Calendar
at www.newyorkfamily.com/events.